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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:'Underdevelopment' of strategic studies as a sub-field of Africa's international relations: a critical appraisal
Author:Bassey, C.O.ISNI
Year:1989
Periodical:Nigerian Journal of International Affairs
Volume:15
Issue:2
Pages:1-30
Language:English
Geographic term:Africa
Subject:defence policy
Abstract:This article focuses on the 'underdevelopment' of strategic studies as a subfield of Africa's international relations. It argues that both in method and subject matter, strategic analysis in Africa remains a nascent field dominated by descriptive studies of local and inter-State security issues. Section one examines the premises of strategic thinking in the African context to date. It focuses on the debate as to whether the established theories and categories for the analysis of international relations, especially those involving the use of military force, are appropriate for Africa. The second section considers the issue of the utility of military power (and the maintenance of expensive military systems) for the security of African States. In this regard, the nuclear proliferation issue is considered within the overall context of the recurrent policy debate concerning the acquisition of viable intermediate retaliatory nuclear capability. Section three discusses the mutually reinforcing disciplinary linkages between strategy and African foreign and development studies. Finally, a case is made for the need to strengthen and expand a strategic studies programme in African universities to ensure coherent intellectual policy and institutional responses to the spiral of intraregional conflict and the role of military force in its resolution. Notes, ref., sum.
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